Tension in the body can manifest in various ways, such as an achy neck or a headache. Body tension can be caused by muscle tightness from exercise, as well as lack of exercise, but also from mental and emotional stress. It's important to relieve tension, as it will only build up and make you feel awful. Try some relaxation techniques to help ease body tension.

Exercise

Exercising lifts your mood, releases tension in the body, and lowers stress hormone levels. Swimming is a great exercise for easing tension since it's non-impact so it won't stress your joints, and it relaxes your muscles. According to MayoClinic.com, however, any type of exercise, whether it's running or yoga, releases tension in the body. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that each week adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, such as fast walking or light swimming, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, like running.

Massage

According to ABC News, massaging your hands eases tension in your entire body because they have pressure points connected to all of your body parts. Massaging your body also relieves tension, and massaging your neck and behind your ears may be the key to relieving tension headaches. Researchers have concluded that a 30-minute massage on key trigger points relieves tension headaches by improving regulation of your autonomic nervous system.

Progressive Relaxation

Progressive relaxation is a techique for easing and releasing tension in the body. Lie still as you mentally scan all the parts of your body from head to toe one at a time. First think about your forehead and feel if there's any tension in it. Feel yourself relaxing that part and releasing the tension. Continue this until you reach your toes.

Deep Breathing

When you have tension in your body, you end up taking in less oxygen, which causes more tension to build up. Taking several slow, deep breaths through your nose to restore your oxygen levels makes your body relax, and in turn it absorbs more oxygen and keeps you feeling relaxed.

Quick and Simple Tricks

Tension in your body is often connected to mental and emotional stress. Keep a stress ball on your desk at work and squeeze it when you feel stressed. Talking with friends and giving yourself "me time" are also good tension relievers. Make your environment, whether it's your home, office or both, more relaxing by burning candles, using aromatherapy, softening the lighting, putting pictures of nature scenes on the walls or playing some smooth jazz in the background.

About the Author

Lindsay Haskell enjoys writing about fitness, health, culture and fashion. She is a contributor for "Let's Talk Magazine" and "The Wellesley News." Haskell is completing her B.A. in philosophy at Wellesley College. She's also a fiction writer whose work can be read online.